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1. Wildlife officials find recent programs to curb brucellosis lacking, look for other solutions [WY - edited]
Christine Peterson
Casper Star-Tribune Online
April 2, 2015
OUTSIDE PINEDALE - Elk pushed and jostled against each other in a maze of green, metal pens at the base of the Wind River Range.
Wildlife biologists and technicians coordinated their efforts. They needed to sort, test and tag about 100 elk in a matter of hours. The team had it down to a science.
Gates opened simultaneously, as animals moved through four at a time. Elk fit in a small slot at the end of their capture where biologists drew blood and punched in an ear tag.
The day in mid-February was dedicated largely to a multi-million-dollar, decades-long effort to stop the spread of brucellosis, a disease that causes elk, bison and cattle to miscarry.
Scientists have tried dozens of tactics to stop the spread in elk, none of which seem to offer the silver bullet. Hope had been placed in a vaccine, a similar strain that worked well in cattle, but results now show it did little.
More alarming is the diseases' slow movement outside of western Wyoming. As it continues to spread, wildlife officials, ranchers and veterinarians are hoping the future rests in efforts as simple as changing feeding patterns and as complex as creating an entirely new vaccine.
"I've been working on this for over 30 years, and we haven't gained nearly as much ground as I thought we once would," said Jim Logan, the Wyoming state veterinarian. "When I was younger, I really did think we probably could eradicate it ... but it's a very, very difficult thing to overcome."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/m3gcsdo
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2. State quarantines four stables to prevent spread of horse herpes virus [MI - edited]
By Lindsey Smith
MichiganRadio.org
April 3, 2015
Four horse stables are under quarantine because of a herpes virus outbreak. There are three confirmed cases at two stables; one in Livingston County and one in Saginaw. The virus popped up last month at an event in Barry County.
Two of the three horses displayed neurological symptoms, though the strain of virus is a respiratory one. One of those horses was euthanized [the index case in Livingston Co.].
People are being urged to vaccinate their horses and check their temperatures at least twice a day. Those with a fever of 101.5 or more should contact their veterinarian.
An official with Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said MDARD will be posting updated information about the outbreak on its Facebook page* as it is confirmed.
[*See: https://www.facebook.com/MIDeptofAgriculture ]
Full text:
http://michiganradio.org/post/state-quarantines-four-stables-prevent-spread-horse-herpes-virus
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3. INFORM: USDA To Launch New Equine Study in Spring 2015
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
April 3, 2015
The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) will launch Equine 2015 in May-NAHMS third national study of the U.S. equine industry. As with NAHMS' 1998 and 2005 equine studies, Equine 2015 is designed to provide participants, industry, and animal-health officials with information on the nation's equine population that will serve as a basis for education, service, and research related to equine health and management, while providing the industry with new and valuable information regarding trends in the industry for 1998, 2005, and 2015.
For this study, NAHMS asked equine owners, industry stakeholders, and government officials to provide input and define the information needs of the equine industry. From this process, seven study objectives were identified:
Describe trends in equine care and health management for study years 1998, 2005, and 2015.
Estimate the occurrence of owner-reported lameness and describe practices associated with the management of lameness.
Describe health and management practices associated with important equine infectious diseases.
Describe animal health related costs of equine ownership.
Evaluate control practices for gastrointestinal parasites.
Evaluate equines for presence of ticks and describe tick-control practices used on equine operations.
Collect equine sera along with equine demographic information in order to create a serum bank for future studies.
To collect the data for the study, representatives from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will visit randomly selected equine operations in 28 states, beginning in May 2015. NASS representatives will conduct personal interviews with all participating operations.
For operations that choose to continue in the study and are eligible to do so, representatives from USDA's Veterinary Services will schedule visits from late summer through mid-December 2015 to administer a second questionnaire, perform a facility biosecurity assessment, collect equine blood and fecal samples, perform a tick exam of equine on the operation, and collect tick specimens. Operations continuing in the study also have the option of collecting fecal samples to be tested for internal parasites in order to detect anthelmintic resistance.
For more information on the upcoming NAHMS Equine 2015 study, visit the NAHMS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/nahms (go to the equine section). Please contact Joelle Hayden at Joelle.r.Hayden@aphis.usda.gov or Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz at Josie.Traub-Dargatz@aphis.usda.gov with any questions on this topic.
Source: http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/fbf1d7
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4. WDE Announces Changes to Animal ID Rules [WI]
Wisconsin Ag Connection
April 3, 2015
A change in the animal identification rules for cattle exhibiting at World Dairy Expo will be put in effect for the 2015 show. To remain in compliance with the USDA's Animal Disease Traceability rule, all cattle entering the Alliant Energy Center grounds are required to be identified with a USDA Animal Identification Number 840 RFID or visual ear tag, or a Canadian CCIA 124 RFID tag.
USDA 900, 982, and 985 tags will no longer be accepted as identification for animals born after March 11, 2015. Animals born before this date will be grandfathered in under the new rule and are eligible to enter the grounds. This is an update to the ADT rule that was put in place in 2013 to improve the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate.
"Having proper animal identification is important to ensuring the health of all animals exhibiting at World Dairy Expo," said Tom Morris, WDE Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee Chair. "It also allows for a smooth check-in process at Expo."
Additionally, animals entering the grounds are required to have copies of their health certificates that include the 15-digit identification numbers, found on the 840 or 124 tags. Animals will not be allowed on grounds without completed health forms. It is also recommended to include the AIN and/or CCIA numbers on your dairy cattle entry form to further expedite the check-in process.
Source:
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=396&yr=2015
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5. National Pork Board embraces steps to curb antibiotic resistance
Source: National Pork Board
National Hog Farmer
April 3, 2015
The National Pork Board applauds the White House action plan for combatting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Pork Checkoff, which is funded directly by America's 62,000 pig farmers, could expand its existing research to address this growing consumer issue if the additional commitment of $1.2 billion is realized.
"Collaboration across our industry - from the farms to the dinner table - is critical," said Chris Hodges, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. "America's pig farmers welcome this new federal initiative and are committed to continuous improvement to ensure responsible antibiotic use on the farm.
"Our industry pledges to go above and beyond simply complying with federal guidance," Hodges added. "The Pork Checkoff has deployed millions of producer dollars to fund antimicrobial research for well over a decade and, as noted in the White House statement, is one of the leading agricultural organizations to lead research efforts. Any additional dollars earmarked for research could serve to address the risk posed to animal and human health by antibiotic resistant bacteria."
The U.S. pork industry has previously funded studies conducted in support of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) - a collaborative effort focused on improving animal and public health. Previous NARMS research has studied the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance. Minimizing resistance is a long-standing priority of the Checkoff's producer, public health and workplace safety programs.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/o7r6qnt
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6. Tomblin cites health concerns in veto of raw milk bill [WV]
By Joel Ebert, Capitol Bureau
Charleston Daily Mail
April 2, 2015
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have permitted the consumption of raw milk in West Virginia.
In his veto message delivered to Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, the governor said that raw milk poses inherent dangers.
"It may contain bacteria that is particularly dangerous to children, pregnant women and those with compromised immunity," he said. "A product with these types of health risks should be subject to more supervision than merely requiring a person to release the seller from liability for such risks."
During an appearance on MetroNews Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval on Thursday, Chris Stadelman, communications director for the governor, said the veto came after Tomblin received significant concerns from medical experts.
The raw milk bill, which originally passed 18-16 in the Senate and 81-19 in the House of Delegates, would have allowed dairy farmers to distribute raw milk through herd-sharing agreements.
Full text:
http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20150402/DM01/150409850
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7. Countries pledge to wipe out sheep and goat plague globally
Global campaign aims for complete eradication of Peste de Petits Ruminants
OIE News Release
April 2, 2015
Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire - High-level authorities from 15 countries on Thursday pledged to collaborate on a global plan to wipe out forever the devasting animal disease known as 'Peste des petits ruminants' by 2030, a lethal plague for goats and sheep and the scourge of rural households in vast swathes of the developing world.
Ministerial delegations, along with more than 300 participants from across the continents, representatives of regional bodies and international organizations, agreed to a plan to control and eradicate PPR drawn up by FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and presented at a meeting organized by the two institutions with the Government of C�te d'Ivoire.
The campaign will make PPR only the second animal disease ever to be eradicated, after rinderpest in 2011. PPR is estimated to cause over $2 billion in losses each year, mostly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and its elimination will improve food and nutritional security for billions of consumers and especially the more than 300 million vulnerable households who keep sheep and goats in the affected regions.
"We have a plan, the tools, the science, and the partners," said FAO Director-General Jos� Graziano da Silva. "Eradication of PPR is not only within reach, but also in our hands. With OIE, we have agreed to establish a joint secretariat for the implementation to be hosted by FAO.
"We can mobilize now public and private components of national veterinary services worldwide to influence our strategy," states OIE Director General, Dr Vallat. "Improving animal health is our duty and our passion."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/k8kzjh8
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